Kaduna and the quest for peace

The 4th Conference of the Forum of Cities in Transition holds recently in Kaduna, with the aim of finding solution to the conflicts that have threatened the state and the country at large, reports Tony Akowe in Kaduna

Dialogue remains the most potent tranquiliser that heals human heart from anger and hate. When two conflicting groups agree to sit on a round table, the anger on their mind becomes absolutely solemn and gradually fizzles out with every round of meetings”. With the above statement, Governor Mukthar Ramalan Yero sets the agenda for the 4th conference of the Forum of Cities in Transition. The idea of hosting the conference in Kaduna was to afford the state and indeed Nigerians the opportunity of sharing experiences with other countries and cities that have undergone conflict.

For several years, Kaduna metropolis and indeed the entire Kaduna State has had to grapple with ethnic and religious conflict that threatened to ground the state to a halt. These conflicts have no doubt divided Kaduna metropolis into two with the Muslims dominating the northern part of the metropolis while Christians dominate the southern part. Even though there are still areas within the metropolis where you have a mixture of the two religions, there is no doubt that the people of such communities are living in what could be regarded as peace of the grave yard.

The state governor, Mukthar Ramalan Yero, has on several occasions voiced out his frustration at such development, saying that it does not augur well for development of the state for the metropolis to be allowed to be so divided. The governor harped on this at one of the syndicate sessions which he personally attended to press home the efforts of the state government to ensure that the people live in peace and put behind them, those things that create such conflicts.

The Director of the Forum of Cities in Transition, Prof. Padraig O’Malley, said the Forum was formed to bring together cities across the world that has gone through series of conflict which has negatively affected their development. He said that 92 international delegates from other continents and 12 African countries are expected to attend the conference which will take place at the Musa Yar’adua Indoor Sport hall, in Kaduna.

Former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, who was the guest speaker at the opening ceremony of the conference, was not happy that despite government efforts, ethno-religious and sectarian crisis has continued to polarise Kaduna and other major cities across the country thereby undermining socio-economic and political development of the nation. The former Nigerian leader argued that the social strand which binds the diverse people of the country together has been put under severe stress by series of ethno-religious and sectarian crisis, but was convinced that the overwhelming attendance at the conference was not only a testimony of government initiative for a durable peace, but an affirmation of our collective resolve to install unity in diversity for which we are known.

In his words, “It is my fervent hope that this conference will ensure comprehensive sharing of ideas and experiences such that those cities in transition will find their way to a better future where reconciliation will further be enrooted for succeeding generations. Kaduna is no doubt one of the most complex and diverse places in the country with different ethnic and linguistic groups, sharing a broad spectrum of religious affiliations and tendencies.

The management of these complexities and their diversities has for the greater part of history provided a dynamic framework for the peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians. In the last few years, the social strand which bind the diverse people together has been put under severe stress by series of ethno-religious and sectarian crisis. These crises has polarised Kaduna city as well as other cities in the country and has undermined economic development in the country. I have no doubt that this conference will mark a turning point in the efforts of government to ensure that these cities are united from its polarity along sectional, cultural, ethnic and religious lines”.

He noted that “it is therefore heart-warming to realise that the Kaduna conference is aimed at establishing Kaduna as the hub for peace and reconciliation not only for Kaduna and northern cities in conflict, but for the nation at large. In order to actualise this noble objective, I want to impress on the organisers of the conference to set up a follow-up committee at the end of the conference to ensure sustainability of the commitment to be made by participants geared towards sustainable reconciliation where people of vast ethnic and religious affiliations in this country can live together in harmony. This, will among other benefits inculcate us with the international community with investment opportunities. We must get back to those times when out tribe and religion were instrument of unity and peaceful coexistence. Therefore, this conference should be seen as a clarion call for us to rise up and shoulder the task of ensuring the much desired peace in Kaduna and the country in general. I therefore appeal to our communities to continue to live in peace with one another as there can be no meaningful development without peace”

Governor Yero, on his part, said the state government was determined to address causative factors responsible for conflicts in the state, pledging his personal commitment to fairness, equity in the administration of the state, adding that his government was committed to fairness and equity and regards all residents of the state as partners in the Kaduna project. He said “as you are already aware, Kaduna State is a potpourri of Nigeria’s huge diverse ethnic, religious and cultural groups. The state is a mini Nigeria with representation from virtually all the over 250 ethnic groups and the two main faiths in the country. Due to its strategic location at the central part of the country, Kaduna has become home to citizens with diverse backgrounds. For decades, the various groups- Muslims, Christians and millions of people speaking various dialects, lived side by side peacefully and in harmony. That was the sweet memory of Kaduna city, until recent struggle for both political and economic space compounded by mundane ethnic jingoism, lead to series of wanton destruction of lives and property. Aggression during crises in the city was based on dangerous ethno-religious profiling trends, where minority groups are targeted for attacks simply by reason of their faiths or mother tongue. This unfortunate situation has visibly divided the city as citizens now reside in selected locations according to the deity they worship or the language they speak. This is an unacceptable descend to an abyss of human retrogression, which our administration is committed to reverse. I believe that while plurality of ethnic and religious groups could lead to conflict, such misunderstandings must be managed through sustained dialogue and acceptable civil mechanism. Diversity and pluralism are known to be the basis of cosmopolitan and complex societies such as ours. It is only where ethnicity and religion are made means of narrowing people’s participation in politics, economic, and social spheres that crisis of monumental proportions become manifest”.

A worried Yero, who said that the government was determined to ensure that everyone in the state live in peace with one another, added, “to address the numerous causative factors of conflict in multi-ethnic, multi-religious society such as ours, this administration has remained firm in ensuring that the people of Kaduna State are availed with equal opportunities in all spheres of human endeavors. I am personally committed to leading the diverse people of the state with absolute fairness and equity. To us, all sections of the state are equal partners and none shall be given more or less of its fair share. This administration has prudently managed the resources accruable to the state. We have strived to cut down on wastage and to seal all loopholes that may lead to corrupt diversion of public funds. This has since gained us a positive rating from the notable Fitch Rating Agency, which rated the economic outlook of Kaduna State as B+ with bright prospects. Already, we have started benefitting from the impact of this rating, with influx of foreign investors into the state, expressing their willingness to invest in various sectors of our economy. We have remained focused in implementing deliberate policies aimed at reducing poverty and high rate of unemployment among youths and women in the entire state. To curb youth restiveness in our communities, the state government has commenced training in various skills for over 6000 youths selected from all the 23 Local Government Areas.

” Furthermore, in our bid to reunite the people of the state, this administration has already provided platforms for the diverse people to regularly engage in dialogue. We have initiated Peace and Security forums where people from diverse backgrounds meet to ventilate all shades of opinion on matters affecting the state and in the end their resolutions are collated and documented for government use. Presently, the peace and security meetings are being held in virtually all communities in Kaduna State. Some communities have held successful sessions that culminate in signing of peace agreements, where people of diverse backgrounds that are living together, agreed to unite against future breakdown of law and order in their area. These are heartwarming developments and we are working hard to ensure that we reintegrate our people, so as to reenact the past, when we all lived together as one, irrespective of tribe or creed”.

Interestingly, the conference drew participants from 16 countries across the globe which include four African countries and some cities in Nigeria. Although there was no official communuique at the end of the conference, The Nation can reveal that the delegates made specific commitment to ensuring the maintenance of peace in the countries and cities while a Nigeria Forum for Cities in Transition was formed.

Yahaya Aminu, the governor’s Chief of Staff who was chairman of the Local Organising Committee said that in the recent past, there had been disagreement and conflict which often degenerate violence, which has left some scars and negative impact on Kaduna State, pointing out that this scar has left the communities in the state divided, especially within Kaduna metropolis with certain areas being inhabited by followers of particular religion and tribes.”

Aminu said that what is needed in the state at this point in time is reintegration, trust, confidence and harmony of the various communities for the state to develop. He said further that Kaduna “is not the only city in the world that has this kind of experience. There are other cities that have similar experience, probably worse”. He said however that the state decided to host the conference because it was in line with the fundamental objective of the present administration. Aminu also said that the essence of the conference however is to make commitment by the participating cities and identify important values and activities that are of benefit to the people that ensure peace and to carry out activities that will promote peace in the cities.